Head-to-Head: Miller Bolaños and Maicon Santos

As the Goats prepare for this Sunday’s match against D.C. United at RFK Stadium, there are a couple of players that each team should be concerned about. In this match, we focus on two: Chivas USA’s Miller Bolaños and D.C. United’s Maicon Santos.

First off, who remembers Maicon Santos? The former Chivas USA players joined the club in late August of 2009 and in his first match with the team; he recorded his first assist. After that, Maicon went off and played in 10 games (eight of them starts), scoring two goals, including the unforgettable SuperClásico playoff goal in the first leg against the LA Galaxy.

After crusading through Toronto FC and FC Dallas, it seems like Maicon has finally found a home with DC United. Just this season, the Brazilian striker has played in 22 games (14 starts) already notching seven goals and three assists (his latest in the team’s last match vs Philadelphia Union). Although Maicon kicked-off the season on the right foot, an injury halted the Brazilian in midseason, and just made his comeback early this month.

But now, the Goats count with attacking midfielder Miller Bolaños. Although his adaptation to a new league was not the easiest in the beginning of the season, Bolaños has made a complete turn around and has turned into the team’s top attacking player on the field. In his first season with MLS, Miller has started in 19 games (16 starts), making it to the starting line-up for the past six consecutive games.

Bolaños has scored two goals and adds three assists, but just in the team’s last match against Columbus Crew, the Ecuadorian midfielder turned into the Crew defenders’ worst nightmare, having five shots on goal in the first 15 minutes. But Wednesday was no different to what Miller turns into when he’s on the pitch. So far, the 22-year old has 54 shots (13 on goal) just one short of the number that Maicon has with three more games played.

Miller’s consistency will likely continue this Sunday against D.C. United as he makes his seventh consecutive start, and Maicon’s status in the United line-up will be pending until match day.